Alan Pardew admits he fears facing former Newcastle and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll

ALAN PARDEW believes unplayable Andy Carroll could wreck Crystal Palace's bid to tighten their grip on a top four spot.

ONCE UPON A TIME: Pardew and Carroll at Newcastle in 2010

Palace boss Pardew has first-hand experience of Carroll's qualities after working with the West Ham striker at Newcastle.

And with the 26-year-old hit-man working his way back to full fitness after a knee injury, the manager has no doubt about the threat posed by Carroll if he starts at Selhurst Park tomorrow afternoon.

Pardew said: "He's unplayable at times. There aren't many strikers who are completely unplayable, and he's one of them.

"He did that a few times last year, particularly at the start of the season. He carries a presence up there.

"In recent years in the Premier League, as an attacker of the ball in the air, there has been no one better than him."

TOUGH TIME: Carroll has struggled at West Ham

And Pardew warned his Palace centre-backs they will know they have been in a clash after facing the centre-forward.

The manager added: "When you have that kind of determination and aggression, there aren't many strikers with the same aggression as him on crosses.

"He will slam into a centre-half to try and score - not in an illegal way, but he gets bumps and bruises and it's his bravery that gets him into trouble at times.

"I'm pleased he's back. I hope he gets a free run from injury because he's a fine player."

Pardew, meanwhile, admits Patrick Bamford's loan spell from Chelsea will be reviewed in January if the striker continues to find himself on the fringe of the Palace first team.

The manager said: "It's unfortunate for Patrick because he's working hard, but it is an obvious situation. If he doesn't play any real time between now and January, we'll have to look at it for sure."